Semiconductor device assembly with through-mold cooling channel formed in encapsulant

ABSTRACT

Semiconductor device assemblies having stacked semiconductor dies and thermal transfer devices that include vapor chambers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device assembly includes a first semiconductor die having a base region, at least one second semiconductor die at the base region, and a thermal transfer device attached to the first and second dies. The thermal transfer device includes an encapsulant at least partially surrounding the second die and a via formed in the encapsulant. The encapsulant at least partially defines a cooling channel that is adjacent to a peripheral region of the first die. The via includes a working fluid and/or a solid thermal conductor that at least partially fills the channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/505,434, filed Jul. 8, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,916,487, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/938,305, filed Mar. 28,2018, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,424,531, which is a divisional ofU.S. application Ser. No. 15/181,212, filed Jun. 13, 2016, which issuedas U.S. Pat. No. 9,960,150, which are each incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed embodiments relate to semiconductor device assemblies, andin particular to semiconductor device assemblies having a package casingwith a through-mold cooling channel.

Packaged semiconductor dies, including memory chips, microprocessorchips, and imager chips, typically include a semiconductor die mountedon a substrate and encased in a plastic protective covering. The dieincludes functional features, such as memory cells, processor circuits,and imager devices, as well as bond pads electrically connected to thefunctional features. The bond pads can be electrically connected toterminals outside the protective covering to allow the die to beconnected to higher level circuitry.

Semiconductor manufacturers continually reduce the size of die packagesto fit within the space constraints of electronic devices, while alsoincreasing the functional capacity of each package to meet operatingparameters. One approach for increasing the processing power of asemiconductor package without substantially increasing the surface areacovered by the package (i.e., the package's “footprint”) is tovertically stack multiple semiconductor dies on top of one another in asingle package. The dies in such vertically-stacked packages can beinterconnected by electrically coupling the bond pads of the individualdies with the bond pads of adjacent dies using through-silicon vias(TSVs). In vertically stacked packages, the heat generated is difficultto dissipate, which increases the operating temperatures of theindividual dies, the junctions therebetween, and the package as a whole.This can cause the stacked dies to reach temperatures above theirmaximum operating temperatures (T_(max)) in many types of devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are cross-sectional and top views, respectively, showinga semiconductor device assembly having a cooling channel configured inaccordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are top views showing semiconductor device assemblieshaving through-mold and other cooling features configured in accordancewith embodiments of the present technology.

FIGS. 4-7 are cross-sectional views showing semiconductor deviceassemblies having through-mold and other cooling features configured inaccordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a system that includes asemiconductor device in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Specific details of several embodiments of semiconductor deviceassemblies having a through-mold cooling channel formed in anencapsulant (e.g., overmold) of a package casing are described below. Invarious embodiments described below, the through-mold cooling channelincludes a thermal conductor that can facilitate heat transfer from oneor more semiconductor dies of a semiconductor device assembly. The term“semiconductor device” generally refers to a solid-state device thatincludes semiconductor material. A semiconductor device can include, forexample, a semiconductor substrate, wafer, or die that is singulatedfrom a wafer or substrate. Throughout the disclosure, semiconductordevices are generally described in the context of semiconductor dies;however, semiconductor devices are not limited to semiconductor dies.

The term “semiconductor device package” can refer to an arrangement withone or more semiconductor devices incorporated into a common package. Asemiconductor package can include a housing or casing that partially orcompletely encapsulates at least one semiconductor device. Asemiconductor device package can also include an interposer substratethat carries one or more semiconductor devices and is attached to orotherwise incorporated into the casing. The term “semiconductor deviceassembly” can refer to an assembly of one or more semiconductor devices,semiconductor device packages, and/or substrates (e.g., interposer,support, or other suitable substrates). The semiconductor deviceassembly can be manufactured, for example, in discrete package form,strip or matrix form, and/or wafer panel form. As used herein, the terms“vertical,” “lateral,” “upper,” and “lower” can refer to relativedirections or positions of features in the semiconductor device in viewof the orientation shown in the Figures. For example, “upper” or“uppermost” can refer to a feature positioned closer to the top of apage than another feature. These terms, however, should be construedbroadly to include semiconductor devices having other orientations, suchas inverted or inclined orientations where top/bottom, over/under,above/below, up/down, and left/right can be interchanged depending onthe orientation.

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 1B is top plan view of asemiconductor device assembly 100 (“assembly 100”) configured inaccordance with an embodiment of the present technology. Referring toFIG. 1A, the assembly 100 includes a package support substrate 102(e.g., an interposer), a first semiconductor die 104 (“a first die 104”)on the support substrate 102, a plurality of second semiconductor dies106 (“a plurality of second dies 106”) mounted to the first die 104, anda thermal transfer device (TTD) 108 over the first and second dies 104and 106. The first die 104 includes a base region 118 and a peripheralregion 120 (known to those skilled in the art as a “porch” or “shelf”)adjacent the base region 118. The second dies 106 are arranged in astack 124 (“die stack 124”) on the base region 118.

The TTD 108 includes an encapsulant 110 having an upper surface 112, avia 148 formed in the upper surface 112, and a heat dissipator (e.g., acover 105) that is coupled to the upper surface 112. The encapsulant 110forms a protective casing 153 that at least partially surrounds the diestack 124 and an outer portion 107 of the peripheral region 120 of thefirst die 104. The casing 153 includes inner and outer sidewall portions114 a and 114 b (collectively “sidewalls 114”). The sidewalls 114 atleast partially define a cavity, or cooling channel 150, such as a hole,a trench, a cavity, or similar feature in the encapsulant 110. Thechannel 150 has an opening 152 proximate the upper surface 112 of theencapsulant 110. The cavity 150 extends from the upper surface 112 to alower surface 113 located at the base of the channel. In someembodiments, the lower surface 113 can be an active surface of the firstdie 104. In one embodiment described below, the active surface can be asurface of a conductive feature, such as a metal trace or contact pad,that is formed on the peripheral region 120 of the first die 104 beforeforming the encapsulant 110 on the first die 104. In other embodimentsdescribed below, the lower surface 113 can be a surface of an interfacematerial (not shown), such as thermal conductor or a dielectric spacermaterial, that at least partially covers an active surface at theperipheral region 120.

The via 148 includes a thermal conductor at least partially filling thechannel 150 and in direct contact with the lower surface 113 at the baseof the channel 150. In FIG. 1A, the thermal conductor is a working fluid122 (e.g., a dielectric fluid) configured to thermally couple theperipheral region 120 of the first die 104 with the cover 105. The cover105 can be attached to the upper surface 112 of the encapsulant 110 withan adhesive 123. Suitable adhesives can include, for example, a thermalinterface material (“TIM”) or other adhesives containing, e.g.,silicone-based greases, gels, or adhesives that are doped withconductive materials and/or phase change materials. The cover 105 caninclude a condenser, a heat sink, a heat spreader, and/or otherstructure for dissipating heat. The working fluid 122 can be adielectric fluid, such as a dielectric liquid or oil (e.g., a siliconoil), that is generally not electrically conductive. For example, theworking fluid 122 can be composed of perfluorocarbons,hydrofluoroethers, fluoroketones, and/or other constituents thatincrease electrical resistance and prevent the working fluid 122 frominterfering with the electrical operation of the assembly 100. In oneembodiment the working fluid 122 can be a Novec Engineered Fluid™available from the 3M Company of Maplewood, Minn. In various embodimentsdescribed below, the working fluid 122 and the cover 105 form part of animmersion cooling system configured to transfer heat away from theperipheral region 120 of the first die 104 to the ambient environmentoutside of the assembly 100.

The encapsulant 110 can include an epoxy resin or other suitablematerial that can be molded or shaped to form the casing 153 by transfermolding or compression molding. The encapsulant 110 can include variousadditives (e.g., coupling agents, cure promoters, silica fillers, suchas alumina fillers, etc.) selected to have suitable thermalconductivity, adhesion, chemical resistance, strength, and/or otherproperties. The channel 150 can be formed by etching, laser cutting,sawing, or otherwise removing portions of the encapsulant 110 adjacentthe die stack 124 and the peripheral region 120 of the first die 104. Insome embodiments, the channel 150 can have a width w₁ in the range ofabout 200 to about 1,000 μm (e.g., 500 μm), and a height h₁ in the rangeof about 500 to about 1,500 μm (e.g., 700 μm or 1100 μm).

The first and second dies 104 and 106 can include various types ofsemiconductor components and functional features, such as dynamicrandom-access memory (DRAM), static random-access memory (SRAM), flashmemory, other forms of integrated circuit memory, processing circuits,imaging components, and/or other semiconductor features. In variousembodiments, for example, the assembly 100 can be configured as a hybridmemory cube (HMC) in which the stacked second dies 106 are DRAM dies orother memory dies that provide data storage and the first die 104 is ahigh-speed logic die that provides memory control (e.g., DRAM control)within the HMC. In other embodiments, the first and second dies 104 and106 may include other semiconductor components and/or the semiconductorcomponents of the individual second dies 106 in the die stack 124 maydiffer. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A, the first die 104includes an integrated circuit 128 formed in the peripheral region 120.In one embodiment, the portion of the integrated circuit 128 in theperipheral region 120 can include one or more circuit components thatproduce relatively large amounts of heat during operation, such asserial/deserializer (SERDES) circuits. In a related embodiment, circuitcomponents that produce relatively smaller amounts of heat duringoperation can be located away from the peripheral region and/or directlybeneath the die stack 124.

The die stack 124 can be electrically coupled to the package supportsubstrate 102 and to one another by a plurality of electricallyconductive elements 130 (e.g., copper pillars, solder bumps, and/orother conductive features). Each of the first and second dies 104 and106 can include a plurality of through-silicon vias (TSVs) 131 that arecoupled on opposite sides to the conductive elements 130. In addition toelectrical communication, the conductive elements 130 and the TSVs 131transfer heat at least vertically away from the die stack 124 and towardthe cover 105. In some embodiments, the assembly 100 can also include aplurality of thermally conductive elements or “dummy elements” (notshown) positioned interstitially between the first and second dies 104and 106 to further facilitate heat transfer through the die stack 124.Such dummy elements can be at least generally similar in structure andcomposition to the conductive elements 130 and/or the TSVs 131 exceptthat they are not electrically coupled to the functional circuitry ofthe first and second dies 104 and 106.

The assembly 100 can further include an underfill material 134 betweeneach of the second dies 106 and between the first die 104 and the bottomsecond die 106 to provide mechanical support and electrical isolationbetween the conductive elements 130. The underfill material 134 can forma fillet 136 that extends outwardly from the die stack 124 in a regionproximate the first die 104. In some embodiments, the encapsulant 110can conform to the shape of the fillet 136. In other embodiments, thefillet 136 can be partially etched or removed to increase the relativewidth w₁ of the via 148.

FIG. 1B shows the channel 150 in more detail with the cover 105 (FIG.1A) removed from the assembly 100 for purposes of illustration. Theworking fluid 122 (FIG. 1A) can be instilled into the channel 150 andover the lower surface 113 via the opening 152 in the encapsulant 110.In FIG. 1B, the channel 150 surrounds an outer perimeter P₁ of the diestack 124 (shown in hidden lines). In other embodiments, the channel 150does not completely surround the die stack 124. For example, in oneembodiment shown in FIG. 2 , a channel of a via 248 a can be anelongated trench 250 a that is formed in the encapsulant 110 and extendsover fewer than all of the sides (e.g., a left-hand side 225 a) of thedie stack 124. In some embodiments, another via 248 b can be formed inthe encapsulant 110 over one or more other sides (e.g., a right-handside 225 b) of the die stack 124. The via 248 b can be formed in atrench 250 b that is similar to the trench 250 a (collectively “trenches250”). In the example of FIG. 2 , the trenches 250 are spaced laterallyapart from one another, and both are filled with the working fluid 122(FIG. 1A). The encapsulant 110 can include outer sidewall portions 214 aand 214 b (collectively “sidewalls 214”) that extend between thetrenches 250 and along opposite sides 225 c and 225 d of the die stack124.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , a cavity of a via 348 a can be ahole 350 a (e.g., a circular-, square-, or rectangular-shaped hole) thatis formed in the encapsulant 110. The hole 350 a can be positionedproximate to another hole 350 b of an adjacent via 348 b. In FIG. 3 ,other vias 348 c and corresponding holes 350 c are formed in theencapsulant 110 and arrayed along the various sides of the die stack124. The encapsulant 110 includes individual separator portions 314(“separators 314”) between the individual holes 350 a-c and separatingthe individual vias 348 a-c from one another. The holes 350 a-c can eachbe filled with the working fluid 122 (FIG. 1A). In one embodimentdescribed below, holes, trenches, channels, and/or other cavities can beformed in an upper region 315 of the encapsulant located above the diestack 124.

In various embodiments, the shape, size (e.g., the width), position,and/or the number of the channels in the encapsulant can be selected toincrease attachment strength of the encapsulant 110. Referring back toFIG. 1A, in some embodiments a smaller channel 150 and/or a fewer numberof smaller channels distributed along the perimeter P₁ (FIG. 1B) of thedie stack 124 can increase the amount of surface-to-surface contactbetween the encapsulant 110 and the various components of the assembly100, such as the cover 105, the support substrate 102, the first die104, one or more of the second dies 106, and/or the fillet 136. Inaddition or alternately, one or more of the sidewalls 114, the sidewalls214 (FIG. 2 ), the separators 314 (FIG. 3 ), and/or other featuresformed in the encapsulant 110 can be sized and/or positioned to providesuitable structural reinforcement. In some embodiments, increasedsurface-to-surface contact and/or structural reinforcement can preventthe encapsulant from collapsing, folding, and/or de-laminating duringmanufacture, such as when the cover 105 is installed on the encapsulant110 and/or when the working fluid 122 is instilled in a channel or otherfluid-containing feature(s) of a via.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device assembly 400(“assembly 400”) configured in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent technology. The assembly 400 can include features generallysimilar to the semiconductor devices assemblies described above withreference to FIGS. 1A-3 . For example, the assembly 400 includes a TTD408 having a via 448 formed in the encapsulant 110. In FIG. 4 , however,the TTD 408 includes a condenser structure 405 (“condenser 405”) coupledto the upper surface 112 of the encapsulant 110.

The condenser 405 can be attached to the upper surface 112 using, e.g.,an adhesive (not shown), such as a TIM. The condenser 405 includes anouter wall 462 having an interior surface 465, and a condensation region468 located at the interior surface 465. The outer wall 462 defines acavity, or internal compartment 467, that is fluidly coupled to thechannel 150 in the encapsulant 110 via the opening 152. In someembodiments, the outer wall 462 can be formed from thermally conductivematerials, such as copper, aluminum, ceramic materials, or othermaterials having suitably high thermal conductivities. In oneembodiment, the outer wall 462 is formed from extruded metal that iscrimped or bent to define the shape of the compartment 467. In anotherembodiment, the compartment 467 is formed from conductive metal membersjoined together by brazing or other metal joining processes.

In some embodiments, the condenser 405 can include other structuresand/or features attached to or integrally formed in the outer wall 462.For example, the condenser 405 can include an additional heat sink (notshown), such as conductive fins, or the outer wall 462 can be made froma semiconductor material (e.g., silicon). In some embodiments, the outerwall 462 can include an inlet 470 having an opening 472 through whichthe working fluid 122 is dispensed into the compartment 467 and thechannel 150 in the encapsulant 110. The fluid inlet 470 can be cappedwith a plug 474 (e.g., a metal or plastic plug) that seals (e.g.,hermetically seals) the interior cavity of the TTD 408. In someembodiments, the plug 474 may be removable from the opening 472 so thatthe working fluid 122 can be replenished through the inlet 470. In otherembodiments, the outer wall 462 can be permanently sealed.

The condensation region 468 extends over a portion of the interiorsurface 465 above the channel 150 and the upper surface 112 of theencapsulant 110. In some embodiments, the condensation region 468 caninclude a wicking feature (e.g., a mesh) configured to wick condensed(i.e., liquid phase) fluid along the interior surface 465 to return thefluid to the reservoir of fluid located below the condensation region468. In FIG. 4 , the working fluid 122 completely fills the channel 150,and at least partially fills the compartment 467. In other embodiments,the working fluid 122 can completely fill the compartment 467.Alternately, the compartment 467 can be generally empty and the channel150 can be partially or completely filled with the working fluid 122.

The via 448 further includes an interface material, or thermallyconductive liner 480, over a surface 419 of the peripheral region 120 ofthe first die 104 and over the sidewalls 114 in the channel 150. In someembodiments, the conductive liner 480 can include an electroless orelectroplated copper (e.g., porous copper), a solder paste, and/or asintered silver paste. The material of the conductive liner can beselected to have a high thermal conductivity to facilitate heattransfer. For example, copper, solder paste, and sintered silver pastecan have thermal conductivities of 300 W/mk, 58 W/mk, and 175 W/mk,respectively. In additional or alternate embodiments, the conductiveliner 480 can include an isotropic/anisotropic adhesive, a ceramicmaterial, or a TIM. In some embodiments the conductive liner 480 can becoated with an ultrathin moisture barrier and/or dielectric barrier,such as a CVD-deposited parylene.

In operation, as the assembly 400 is heated to and/or operating at anelevated temperature, the first die 104 transfers heat from theperipheral region 120 into the working fluid 122 proximate the channel150, as shown by arrows F. In some embodiments, heat produced by the diestack 124 can also be transferred into the working fluid 122 through anupper region 415 of the encapsulant 110 that overlies the stack 124.When the working fluid 122 is heated above its vaporization temperature,the fluid vaporizes, as shown by arrows H. The vapor-phase fluiddiffuses into the condensation region 468, where it condenses due to therelatively lower temperature in this region. As the working fluid 122condenses, its latent heat is transferred to the outer wall 462 of thecondenser 405, which in turn transfers the latent heat to the externalenvironment outside of the assembly 400. Evaporative cooling cancontinue as the condensed working fluid 122 is re-heated and vaporizedin the channel 150 and the compartment 467 and, again, condensed in thecondensation region 468.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device assembly 500(“assembly 500”) configured in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent technology. The assembly 500 can include features generallysimilar to the semiconductor devices assemblies described above withreference to FIGS. 1A-4 . For example, the assembly 500 includes a TTD508 having an encapsulant 510 and a via 548 with a channel 550 formed inan encapsulant 510 and filled with the working fluid 122. In FIG. 5 ,however, the via 548 includes a spacer material 558 (e.g., a dielectricmaterial) that covers the peripheral region 120 of the first die 104 atthe base of the channel 550. The spacer material 558 can comprise aportion of the encapsulant 510. In some embodiments, the spacer material558 can be a portion of the encapsulant 510 that is left over afterforming the channel 550 in the encapsulant 510. In various embodiments,the channel 550 is partially or entirely shaped or molded during anencapsulation process, such as film assist molding, cavity directinjection molding, etc. In other embodiments, the channel 550 can beformed after encapsulation, such as with mechanical, chemical, and/orlaser approaches through dicing, etching, ablation, and/or othermaterial removal processes. In various embodiments, the channel can beformed in the encapsulant when it is in discrete package form, in stripor matrix form, or in wafer panel form.

The spacer material 558 can be configured to provide a thermallyconductive path between the working fluid 122 and the peripheral region120 of the first die 104, while also electrically insulating theperipheral region 120. The spacer material 558 can have a thicknessand/or composition configured to electrically insulate an active surfaceat the peripheral region 120. In some embodiments, the spacer material558 can provide electrical insulation in cases where the working fluid122 is more electrically conductive than a traditional dielectric fluid.In such embodiments the working fluid 122 may include ethylene glycol orother constituents that tend to increase electrical conductivity.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device assembly 600(“assembly 600”) configured in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent technology. The assembly 600 can include features generallysimilar to the semiconductor devices assemblies described above withreference to FIGS. 1A-5 . For example, the assembly 600 includes a TTD608 having a first via 648 a with a first channel 650 a formed in anencapsulant 610 and filled with the working fluid 122. In FIG. 6 ,however, the TTD 608 includes a plurality of second vias 648 b formed inan upper region 615 of the encapsulant 610 above the die stack 124. Eachof the second vias 648 b extends into a corresponding second channel 650b in the upper region 615 and positioned between opposing sidewallportions 614. The second channels 650 b are filled with the workingfluid 122. Each of the vias 648 a and 648 b includes a spacer material658 at the base of the corresponding channels 650 a and 650 b. In otherembodiments, the spacer material 658 may be omitted from the first via648 a and/or the second vias 648 b. Alternately, the individual vias 648a and 648 b can include a metal liner in addition to or in lieu of thespacer material 658.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device assembly 700(“assembly 700”) configured in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent technology. The assembly 700 can include features generallysimilar to the semiconductor devices assemblies described above withreference to FIGS. 1A-6 . For example, the assembly 700 includes a TTD708 having a via 748 with that includes a channel 750 formed in anencapsulant 710. In FIG. 7 , however, the channel 750 is filled with athermal conductor comprising a solid fill material 722 in lieu of theworking fluid 122 (FIG. 1 ). The solid fill material 722 can include ametal core 745, such as a copper core solder ball, that extends betweenthe cover 105 and the peripheral region 120 of the first die 104. Themetal core 745 has a lower portion 746 that is coupled to the peripheralregion 120 by a first conductive material 736 a, and an upper portion747 that is coupled to an inner surface 729 of the cover 105 by a secondconductive material 736 b. The first and second conductive materials caninclude, for example, metal solder, a conductive paste, a TIM, or thelike. In FIG. 7 , the peripheral region 120 of the first die 104includes a contact pad 726 (e.g., a metal pad) that provides a surfacefor to which the first conductive material 736 a is attached (e.g.,soldered). In some embodiments, the contact pad 726 can be a dummy padthat is not electrically connected to the integrated circuit 128 orother electrical features of the first die 104.

In other embodiments, the assembly 700 can include one or moreadditional vias 751 (shown in hidden lines) formed in an upper region715 of the encapsulant 710 and filled with a solid fill material (notshown) in a manner similar to the channel 750. The additional vias 751can extend completely through the upper region 715 to contact theuppermost second die 106 of the die stack 124, or partially through theupper region 715 to leave a spacer material between the via 751 and theuppermost second die 106, as discussed above.

Any one of the stacked semiconductor device assemblies described abovewith reference to FIGS. 1A-7 can be incorporated into any of a myriad oflarger and/or more complex systems, a representative example of which issystem 890 shown schematically in FIG. 8 . The system 890 can include asemiconductor device assembly 800, a power source 892, a driver 894, aprocessor 896, and/or other subsystems or components 898. Thesemiconductor device assembly 800 can include features generally similarto those of the semiconductor device assemblies described above withreference to FIGS. 1A-7 , and can therefore include various featuresthat enhance heat dissipation. The resulting system 890 can perform anyof a wide variety of functions, such as memory storage, data processing,and/or other suitable functions. Accordingly, representative systems 890can include, without limitation, hand-held devices (e.g., mobile phones,tablets, digital readers, and digital audio players), computers,vehicles, appliances and other products. Components of the system 890may be housed in a single unit or distributed over multiple,interconnected units (e.g., through a communications network). Thecomponents of the system 890 can also include remote devices and any ofa wide variety of computer readable media.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments ofthe technology have been described herein for purposes of illustration,but that various modifications may be made without deviating from thedisclosure. Further, although many of the embodiments of thesemiconductor die assemblies are described with respect to HMCs, inother embodiments the semiconductor die assemblies can be configured asother memory devices or other types of stacked die assemblies. Inaddition, certain aspects of the new technology described in the contextof particular embodiments may also be combined or eliminated in otherembodiments. Moreover, although advantages associated with certainembodiments of the new technology have been described in the context ofthose embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantagesand not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fallwithin the scope of the technology. Accordingly, the disclosure andassociated technology can encompass other embodiments not expresslyshown or described herein.

We claim:
 1. A semiconductor device assembly, comprising: a firstsemiconductor die including a base region and a peripheral regionadjacent to the base region, the peripheral region having an integratedcircuit; at least one second semiconductor die over the base region; aplurality of thermally conductive elements positioned interstitiallybetween the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die,wherein the thermally conductive elements are isolated from functionalcircuitry of the first and second semiconductor dies; and a thermaltransfer device attached to the first semiconductor die and the at leastone second semiconductor die, the thermal transfer device including anencapsulant surrounding the at least one second semiconductor die, a viaformed in the encapsulant that at least partially defines a cavity abovethe peripheral region of the first semiconductor die, and a thermalconductor at least partially filling the cavity.
 2. The semiconductordevice assembly of claim 1, wherein the peripheral region of the firstsemiconductor die includes an active surface that is in direct contactwith the thermal conductor.
 3. The semiconductor device assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the peripheral region of the first semiconductor die iscoupled to the thermal conductor through an interface materialconfigured to provide a thermally conductive path.
 4. The semiconductordevice assembly of claim 3, wherein the interface material includes aconductive liner.
 5. The semiconductor device assembly of claim 4,wherein the conductive liner is coated with a moisture and/or dielectricbarrier material.
 6. The semiconductor device assembly of claim 3,wherein the interface material includes a spacer material configured toelectrically insulate an active surface of the peripheral region.
 7. Thesemiconductor device assembly of claim 1, wherein the thermal conductorincludes a working fluid.
 8. The semiconductor device assembly of claim1, wherein the thermal conductor includes a solid fill material.
 9. Thesemiconductor device assembly of claim 8, wherein the solid fillmaterial includes a metal core attached to a contact pad of theperipheral region.
 10. The semiconductor device assembly of claim 9,wherein the solid fill material further includes a conductive materialconfigured to fill a portion of the cavity unoccupied by the metal core.11. The semiconductor device assembly of claim 1, wherein the cavityincludes at least one of: a channel surrounding an outer perimeter ofthe at least one second semiconductor die; one or more holescorresponding to the integrated circuit of the peripheral region; or oneor more trenches that each extends along corresponding sides of the atleast one second semiconductor die.
 12. The semiconductor deviceassembly of claim 1, wherein the thermal transfer device furtherincludes a heat dissipator coupled to an upper surface of theencapsulant.
 13. A semiconductor device assembly, comprising: aplurality of semiconductor dies including a first die and a stack ofsecond dies on the first die, wherein the first die includes aperipheral region having an integrated circuit; an encapsulant at leastpartially encapsulating the plurality of semiconductor dies, wherein theencapsulant includes an upper surface above the stack of second dies anda cavity extending between the peripheral region and the upper surfaceof the encapsulant; a plurality of thermally conductive elementspositioned interstitially between the first die and the second dies,wherein the thermally conductive elements are isolated from functionalcircuitry of the first and second dies; and a thermal conductor at leastpartially filling the cavity.
 14. The semiconductor device assembly ofclaim 13, wherein: the first die is electrically coupled to the stack ofsecond dies through a plurality of electrically conductive elementsconfigured to couple the second dies to each other; and each of thesecond dies includes a plurality of through-silicon vias (TSVs)configured to couple with the electrically conductive elements.
 15. Thesemiconductor device assembly of claim 13, further comprising a heatdissipator attached to the upper surface, wherein: the thermal conductorprovides a first thermally conductive path from the first die to theheat dissipator; and the stack of second dies provides a secondthermally conductive path from the first die to the heat dissipator. 16.The semiconductor device assembly of claim 13, further comprising: anunderfill material between each of the second dies and between the firstdie and the bottom second die of the stack.
 17. The semiconductor deviceassembly of claim 16, wherein the underfill material forms a fillet thatextends outwardly from the stack of second dies in an area proximate theperipheral region of the first die.
 18. A semiconductor device assembly,comprising: a logic die including a base region and a peripheral regionadjacent to the base region, the peripheral region having an integratedcircuit; at least one memory die over the base region; a plurality ofthermally conductive elements positioned interstitially between thelogic die and the at least one memory die, wherein the thermallyconductive elements are isolated from functional circuitry of the logicdie and the at least one memory die; and a thermal transfer deviceattached to the logic die and the at least one memory die, the thermaltransfer device including: an encapsulant encapsulating the logic dieand the at least one memory die, the encapsulant having an upper surfaceabove the at least one memory die, a cavity formed above the peripheralregion, and a thermal conductor at least partially filling the cavity;and a heat dissipator coupled to the upper surface.